Chapter 2

Liora's POV 

The night came faster than I wanted. The cold still clung to me, even after I shut the apartment door behind me. I hadn't realized how long I'd walked after the bar—maybe hoping the night would swallow me up before the party found me again. 

It didn't. Instead, I found myself sitting at the edge of my bed, staring down at the napkin the bartender had given me. I had asked who gave it to him.

“Found it at the doorstep of the backyard and it spelled your name.” That was his only response.

I understood the message clearly. But—

“You always look so pale before a party,” 

I was startled as the words caught me off guard. I immediately slipped the napkin into my coat pocket.

“Hello.” Seraphina said again, standing at the doorstep. Her hands were full—one with a garment bag, and the other with a steaming cup of something too herbal to taste good.

“Oh gosh! That smells disgusting,” I muttered, dragging myself off the bed.

“Good. Your senses are working just fine.”

She dropped the bag on the ground and handed me the mug.

I took it but didn't drink. “This'll cure my anxiety or what?”

“Drink up. It'll keep you from punching anyone in the face.”

I raised a brow. “Oh! I see.” I drank up.

Seraphina just smiled and turned away, unzipping the garment bag. “He asked me to help you get ready,” she said casually.

“Of course he did.”

She pulled out an armless black velvet dress. It was simple and elegant. The kind of dress that made people stare.

“He wants you to look good tonight,” she grinned, handing it over.

I scoffed. “I can see you're comfortable saying that…” 

Seraphina shrugged but didn't utter a word. And I didn't push. Instead, I took the dress and started to change, throwing my coat on the bed, while she sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her fingers across the bedsheets.

***********************

The Crimsonhide Manor was already glowing when we arrived. Golden lanterns lined the path. Music drifted out of open doors—violins, piano, murmurs of laughter. Guards stood tall in black uniforms. And the moon itself sat high over the forest. My room to the hall was just a few distance away. And so was Aldric's apartment. Being on bad terms made it so.

I didn't belong here. I told myself. I caught my reflection in the glass doors. Pale skin, silver necklace. Eyes that didn't shine. 

Seraphina placed a hand on my arm. “You ready?”

“No.”

“Too bad.”

Still I walked beside Seraphina, my head held high. Wolves turned as we entered, showing their respect, eyes flicked to me, with admiration. We moved through the crowd and there he was.

Aldric stood on the wide marble staircase in black. No suit, just a tailored shirt open at the throat with sleeves rolled to the elbows, with a beautiful and confident gaze.

His eyes found mine instantly. That same piercing seductive blue eyes. He stepped forward.

“All of you,” his voice rang through the hall, silencing everyone, “raise your glasses to the Luna who walks beside me.”

I froze. 

“Liora.”

Murmurs. Cheers. Forced claps. Fake smiles, all lit up the hall. He extended his hand and I took it. It wasn't like I had any choice. But I wouldn't deny this—his fingers were warm.

He leaned in. “Smile.”

Yes, I did smile but it didn't reach my eyes. 

Cheers followed. But I knew too well that most of the cheers were not real. A few faces smiled too hard. And a few barely smiled at all. 

I just walked beside him, pretending my heart wasn't collapsing inside my chest. I straightened up well, trying not to falter in any way possible.

His hand grazed the small of my back and I stiffened.

I watched Seraphina as she smiled too—but she kept glancing toward the hallway, her eyes flicking to the door and back. Aldric held my hand, along the dance floor. We danced or something close to it. He held me close while the pack watched and cheered. 

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“I've had worse nights.”

He chuckled, his head so close to mine.

“Why now?” I questioned. “Why show me off tonight?”

“You're mine,” a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “That hasn't changed.”

I laughed but cautioned myself. “Could've fooled me.”

He didn't respond and soon we were off the dance floor, extending his hand to one side, like he made a path for me and everyone clapped. I turned toward Seraphina immediately, who stood near the corner of the room now. Her smile had faded. And her eyes flicked toward the hallway again.

I could tell she wasn't enjoying this. Not even the music. I made my way to her.

“Seraphina.”

“Hmm?” She blinked and looked at me like she'd forgotten where she was.

“Where were you just now?”

“Nowhere.”

“You've been staring at that hallway since we walked in.”

She opened her mouth but stopped. “I just… I told you Aldric still cares. I didn't think he'd actually call you Luna in front of everyone.”

“Neither did I,” I admitted.

We stood in silence for a second, music floating above our heads like it didn't belong to us.

Then she said, “Do you think he means it?”

“No,” I answered just immediately as I didn't have to think.

Suddenly, something amongst the crowd felt somehow weird. It wasn't the music. It wasn't the wolves dancing, drinking or toasting to a bond they didn't believe in. It was someone. 

A woman I didn't know stood across the big room, tucked between two pillars. She wasn't dressed like a guest. Her hair was braided tightly back, dark against her pale skin and her cloak shimmered in a way that made her look like a mirage.

But it wasn't what she wore. It was her eyes. She was staring at me, directly and unblinking. My chest lingered and I took a step forward.

“Liora?” Seraphina's voice tugged at my arm. “What's wrong?”

I blinked. “Did you see her?”

“Who?”

But I didn't answer. I broke away from her grip and crossed the room, dodging dancers and servers, pushing past bodies until I reached the pillars. But by the time I got there, she was gone. I turned left, then right, scanning the edges of the hall. There was still nothing. I stepped outside, the cold rushing against my face. Still, there was no one.

But something told me—that was her. The one who left the message at the bar. The one who knew too much. I stood there for a minute longer, hoping maybe she'd step out of the shadow. But the night gave me nothing. 

I hurried back inside. The party roared on like I hadn't left. Wolves toasted, laughed and spilled wine on themselves. Yet, panic flared in my gut. I didn't stop to explain myself. I rushed through the halls, up the stairs, down the long corridor that led to my room. 

The moment I stepped inside. I knew something was wrong. The curtains were drawn shut. And the lamp was still on. But my coat—was folded too neatly on the chair. That was weird cuz I had tossed it on the bed three hours ago. 

I crossed the room in two steps and threw it open, my fingers digging into the inside pocket. But it was empty.

“No.” I whispered, my heart thudding.

I ripped through the other pockets, checked the floor, even the sheets. But the napkin was gone. I pressed my back against the wall and slid down to the floor. My thoughts spiraled—what if someone had been watching me? What if they'd been in my room? What if this was all part of something bigger and I was too blind to see it?

I couldn't breathe. I closed my eyes. Breath. Just breath 

But then—something hit me. A scent. Faint but familiar. I stood too fast, my heart hammering in my chest. My body moved before my brain caught up. I followed the scent down the hallway, down, out the back. The trail was fresh, like someone had just passed through. I turned the corner, past the storage wing, through the corridor rarely used during events.

It was quiet here. Too quiet but the scent got stronger. My hand curled against the stone wall. 

Then I heard it. A whisper. A soft giggle.